LOOKING TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.
18 No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].

. . . mighty to save" (Isaiah 63:1).Commonly, most men, when they read these words, consider them to mean salvation from hell. They are partially correct, but the notion is highly defective.It is true Christ does save men from the penalty of their guilt; he does take those to heaven who deserve the eternal wrath and displeasure of the Most High; it is true that he does blot out "iniquity, transgression, and sin," and that the iniquities of the remnant of his people are passed over for the sake of his blood and atonement.

But that is not the whole meaning of the words "to save." This deficient explanation lies at the root of mistakes which many theologians have made, and by which they have surrounded their system of divinity with mist. They have said that to save is to pluck men as brands from the burning—to save them from destruction if they repent.

Now, it means vastly (I had almost said "infinitely") more than this. "To save" means something more than just delivering penitents from going down to hell.By the words "to save," I understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire, the first spiritual conviction, onward to complete sanctification. All this done of God through Jesus Christ.

Christ is not only mighty to save those who do repent, but he is able to make men repent; he is engaged not merely to carry those to heaven who believe, but he is mighty to give men new hearts and to work faith in them; he is mighty not merely to give heaven to one who wishes for it, but he is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, to constrain the despiser of his name to bend his knee before him, and to make the most abandoned reprobate turn from the error of his ways.

8 Comments:

When one considers salvation through faith in Christ to be a mere human decision unaided by grace similar to choosing an ice cream flavor, it is understandable how one’s doctrine of sanctification can be deficient. However, when one views salvation as being a work of God through the grace of heart replacement surgery, then the doctrine of sanctification is viewed differently. Salvation and sanctification come with God’s power and Spurgeon communicated this very well.

Good post Mark!I am so amazed and disturbed at the same time how folks can actually take credit for their salvation. I have met many free willers and for them to say they had to choose God first before he saved them, floors me. As if God needs our permission..goodness.

jonah 2:9 Salvation is of the Lord..He alone quickens the dead soul that is dead in sins and tresspasses..It's all of God.

This reminds me of the convicted thief who went to church after getting out of jail. At first, there was heavy conviction as he looked at a plaque of the ten commandments. Then, he realized that for the redeemed, this could sound like a triumphant message of hope. His bonds to sin were broken, and from now on, it was a reminder of victory: "You shall not steal."

"Beloved, we regard this as signified by the terms "mighty to save." This is commonly called Calvinistic doctrine; it is none other than Christian doctrine, the doctrine of the holy Bible; for despite that it is now called Calvinism, it could not be so called in Augustine's days; and yet in Augustine's works you find the very same things. And it is not to be called Augustinism; it is to be found in the writings of the apostle Paul. And yet it was not called Paulism, simple for this reason, that it is the expansion, the fulness of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. To repeat what we have before said, we hold and boldly teach that Jesus Christ is not merely able to save men who put themselves in his way and who are willing to be saved, but that he is able to make men willing—that he is able to make the drunkard renounce his drunkenness and come to him—that he is able to make the despiser bend his knee, and make hard hearts melt before his love."

Cristina - "Jonah 2:9 Salvation is of the Lord..He alone quickens the dead soul that is dead in sins and tresspasses..It's all of God."

Well said, sister!

Craver - When you quoted this from Spurgeon:"...from the first holy desire, (& conviction) onward to complete sanctification..." I think so very much good theology was expressed there. I also enjoyed your thoughts on the thief and the 10 commandments. Thank you.

Susan - Thou doest make me glad that thou art a teammate here at bluecollar! Great quote from another part of that sermon... "To repeat what we have before said, we hold and boldly teach that Jesus Christ is not merely able to save men who put themselves in his way and who are willing to be saved, but that he is able to make men willing—"